Author - Jerry Paxton

Next PlayStation and Xbox Performance Details, Leak Imminent? [rumor]

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If this story from VG24/7 is to be believed, it seems that Sony’s next game console, code-named “Orbis”, will be able to push 1.84 teraflops. They also report that this is far more powerful than rumors leaking out of CES that claim the Microsoft console, code-named “Durango”, will push 1.23 teraflops. If this data is correct, it would seem that the Sony console has about a 50% greater performance than Microsoft’s.

The rumors go on to say, however, that Microsoft’s “Durango” will have twice the amount of whole system RAM (Durango: 8GB, Orbis: 4GB), which could balance things out quite a bit. Both systems are said to be capable of using 100GB Blu-ray media.

Most interesting is the very bottom of VG24/7’s story, in which they claim that there are several media outlets working on “major leak stories” related to Microsoft’s “Durango”, thanks to documents supposedly obtained at CES. If all this turns out to be true, things are about to get interesting.

Diablo III Game Director Steps Down

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Diablo III game director, Jay Wilson, has announced that he is leaving his position as Diablo III game director and will be “transitioning elsewhere within Blizzard”. Does this mean he is moving on to their upcoming MMO code-named “Titan” or some other, unannounced title? Time will tell. As an aside, I should mention we got to briefly talk with Jay Wilson at last year’s Spike Video Game Awards.

Letter from Jay Wilson

Hey everyone, 

I wanted all of you to be some of the first to know that I’ve made an important decision about my future, and how that decision will affect the future of Diablo.

I recently celebrated my seven-year anniversary working on Diablo III, and while it’s been one of the most challenging and rewarding periods of my life, I’ve reached a point creatively where I’m looking forward to working on something new. The powers that be at Blizzard have been gracious enough to give me that opportunity. Over the course of the next several weeks, I will be moving off of the Diablo III project and transitioning elsewhere within Blizzard. This decision was not an easy one for me, and not one I made quickly, but ultimately it’s what I feel is right.

The first thing I want to assure you all is that this will not negatively impact our ongoing support of Diablo III. The game was not made by one person, far from it, and the team that poured their passion and considerable talent into it isn’t going anywhere. We have lots of things planned for the future, and those plans will carry forward as normal. I also won’t be abandoning the team, and will remain available to them during the transition period while we determine who will take over duties as game director.

To that point, you shouldn’t be surprised if you see a job posting for a game director on Diablo III, as we want to make sure we explore every opportunity to find the best possible leadership for the project. We’re looking forward to finding this person and hearing what kind of fresh ideas they can bring to the table.

I’m proud of Diablo III, and despite our differences at times I will miss the community that has formed around it. I feel I have made many mistakes in managing that relationship, but my intent was always to provide a great gaming experience, and be as open and receptive as possible, while still sticking true to the vision the Diablo team has for the game.

I know some of you feel we fell short of our promise to release the game “when it’s ready.” While we’re not perfect, we try to make the best decisions we can with the information and knowledge we have at the time. That doesn’t mean we always make the right decisions, but if we made a mistake then I feel we’ve made an exceptional effort to correct it. 

This is what you can always count on from Blizzard: that we will stand by our games and make every effort to continually improve them over time. We heard the feedback and suggestions from the community. For example, we agreed that Diablo III’s itemization at launch was not good enough, so the team made numerous changes, including changing drop rates, re-tuning legendaries, and adding scores of new items to the game. We also agreed that the end game needed more depth, so the team added new events, and new systems like Monster Power and Paragon levels. 

Our commitment to making our games as good as they can be is what has always defined Blizzard as a game studio, and that commitment never ends for us at a ship date. With your help, we’ll continue to play, debate, and improve Diablo III, as we’ve done with every Blizzard game.

To that end, patch 1.0.7 is underway, the PTR is live, and there are many other great things brewing for Diablo in 2013. I’m leaving Diablo III in good hands, and my departure will not jeopardize the progress of the game as we continue to do what we do: listen, play, and improve.

You are the most passionate, dedicated group of gamers a designer could hope to have. I wish you all the best, and want to thank you for making this an amazing experience for me. Keep your axes sharp, your spell books handy, and that crafty devil in check.

–Jay

Snappgrip Succeeds in Kickstarter Campaign

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London – January 17, 2013 – cooltopia is pleased to announce the success of their Kickstarter campaign for the Snappgrip. Snappgrip, a snap-on camera controller that turns smartphones into point-and-shoot cameras will enter production in late February 2013. Smartphone users will now be able to take one-handed photos and snap off spontaneous pictures with ease. Simply attach the controller to the back of a smartphone and start taking pictures. Similar to a digital camera, users will enjoy functions such as zoom mode, shooting mode and focus. Completely portable, compact and removable the Snappgrip is the accessory smartphone users have been waiting for. Snappgrip will be released worldwide in February 2013 for $99MSRP but can be pre-ordered now for approximately $79 (£49) at www.kickstarter.com.

“Thanks to the overwhelming interest and support we received at the Consumer Electronics Show we are proud to announce that we have reached our funding goal and will go into immediate production,” says Lee Harris, Creator of Snappgrip. “We will release Snappgrip for iPhone and Galaxy III in less than a month and will soon follow that with additional smartphone options.”

The Snappgrip controller provides easy access to real shooting controls including:

  • Shutter Function: Full press to take picture, half press to focus
  • Shooting Mode: Portrait, landscape, flash and video
  • Zoom Function: Zoom in for close ups or zoom out for wide shots

Additional features include:

  • Wireless control over your smartphone via Bluetooth and an Android app or an iOS app
  • An iPhone 4, iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S3-specific case to which the Snappgrip controller is easily attached or removed
  • A tripod mounting point at the base of the controller
  • A power switch and a micro USB connector for easy recharging with any standard USB/micro-USB cable
  • An internal lithium ion battery that will last up to 60 hours on standby

Compatibility with additional apps and smartphones will be available after February 2013. For more information about Snappgrip visit www.snappgrip.com.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus Cross-Platform Details Released

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Team Ninja has revealed some of the details behind the cross-platform play of their upcoming Dead or Alive 5 Plus on the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita platforms. DoA 5 Plus is due out on March 19, 2013.

Official Details

CROSS-PLATFORM PLAY

  • Hardware icons will appear next to player names in cross-platform battles to indicate whether they are playing on PS3 or PS Vita
  • Cross-platform battles will run at 60fps on both platforms so there will be no lag or slowdown even when playing on different devices
  • All characters that have been unlocked on PS3 can be used on PS Vita—and vice versa
  • In-game rankings will show whether players are on PS Vita or PS3

CROSS-PLATFORM DLC

  • Using the PS Store, DLC purchases will be shared across both platforms so players can pay a single price while getting dual platform use
  • Over 100 costumes have been delivered to date as DLC, and the cross-platform transfer allows players to preserve their collection while getting new gameplay options with DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS on PS Vita

CROSS-PLATFORM GAME SAVES AND UNLOCKED CONTENT

  • Saved games on PS Vita or PS3 can be used on the other platform, so gamers can play on the go and then bring their progress back to the console (or vice versa)
  • All unlocked content on one platform is available on the other platform; for instance, Tina’s Legend Swimsuit earned by completing Legend mode in Arcade mode without continuing will be available on PS3 if earned on PS Vita
  • Any new stages for DOA5 on PS3, will also be available on DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS for PS Vita

New Kartuga Info Revealed, Video Released

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Hamburg, January 17, 2013. InnoGames just released new information about the pirate action game, Kartuga, as the closed beta nears; the distinct worlds of the game, Ithosia, Kartu and the Empire of the Sun, all differ visually. While Ithosia is reminiscent of the Mediterranean, Kartu plays with Mayan influences, and The Empire is inspired by the Orient. InnoGames also released a video featuring these various locals.

The kingdoms are not historical replicas – fantasy elements and nautical legends are woven into each area to make them truly unique. InnoGames made a conscious decision to steer clear of typical pirate stereotypes when designing the backdrops. “We want to show that the wonderful world of pirates can be more diverse than what is out there now. Players can expect a lot of visual variety from Kartuga,” says Game Designer Philipp Arlt. The kingdoms are further divided into several sectors – where either PVP missions are played or PVE quests are available. Kartuga is starting out with nine sectors to be explored.

Kartuga is an Action-MMO with RPG-elements, designed in Unity 3D. At the core of the game, developed by Ticking Bomb Games, is cooperative PvP.  Closed beta will begin in the coming weeks. Players can already preregister at www.kartuga.com.

With more than 100 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal WarsForge of Empires and Grepolis.

Video

Need for Speed Most Wanted Wii U Release Date

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif.– Team up to top the Most Wanted List! EA and Criterion Games announced today that Need for Speed™ Most Wantedwinner of more than 30 industry awards, is coming to Nintendo’s Wii U™ system on March 19 in North America and March 21 in Europe.Need for Speed Most Wanted unleashes gamers into a connected, open world where they race, chase and explore their way to become Most Wanted amongst their friends.

Utilizing three unique features of the Wii U™ GamePad controller and including bonus content, the Wii U game makes the race to become Most Wanted more fun and social than ever before. Firstly, introducing an all new local co-op mode, Co-Driver, one player drives using the Wii Remote™ controller or Wii U Pro Controller, and another player uses the Wii U GamePad to provide control and navigation assistance on a fully interactive real-time map. Using just their fingertips, a partner can distract pursuing cops, switch from night to day or activate enhanced performance for any car and even control the amount of traffic on the road. This is the ultimate advantage for gamers who like to stir up trouble for the cops, their friends or just for fun.

For another competitive edge, players can change their mods, switch into their favorite cars, track milestones and uncover the city’s hidden gems, all on the fly with the Wii U touch screen, ensuring nothing ever slows them down. Finally, Need for Speed Most Wanted on Wii U brings the blockbuster action of the open world racer to players’ fingertips. The entire game is playable off-screen using the Wii U GamePad, so gamers never have to put the game down.

Need for Speed Most Wanted on Wii U also includes the Ultimate Speed Pack, so players can take to the streets five of the sickest, most ludicrously fast cars ever made: McLaren’s F1 LM, Lamborghini’s minimalist artwork, the Aventador J, the track-focused Pagani Zonda R, Bugatti’s reigning world speed champion, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and Hennessey’s savage 275 mile-an-hour ragtop beast, the Venom GT Spyder.

Need for Speed Most Wanted lets gamers compete against the people they want to defeat most — their friendsWith EA’s innovative online technology Autolog 2, the game automatically tracks and compares best race times, high scores and more. These stats are broadcast throughout the open world, fueling friendly competition and rivalries. Curious if you’re still dominating the leaderboards? Autolog 2 alerts you every time you’ve been knocked off the top, reminding you it’s time to reclaim your position. Need for Speed Most Wanted‘s online multiplayer also ups the ante for social competition. Gamers pick a car, meet up with their friends and are immersed in a non-stop playlist of action-packed events. Whether it’s competing for the best starting position, the ultimate jump, or finishing first place, if there’s something to do, there’s someone to beat. Any Speed Points earned on Wii U will add to your existing total if you are playing the game on any of the other available platforms.

Need for Speed Most Wanted for Wii U will be available March 19 in North America for $59.99 and March 21 in Europe for €69.99.

For more information on Need for Speed Most Wanted, visit http://www.needforspeed.com. For more information on Need for Speed, visithttp://www.needforspeed.com or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/needforspeed and follow us on Twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/needforspeed.

The Showdown Effect Launches One-Liners Website, New Video

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NEW YORK — January 17, 2013 — Paradox Interactive, a no-nonsense publisher pushed to the edge with nothing left to lose, has launched a new website for The Showdown Effect, the multiplayer movie-massacre mayhem title scheduled for release on March 5, 2013. Visitors will get a taste of what waits for them in The Showdown Effect, and marvel at just how many bullets, explosions, and one-liners can be contained on a single site. There is also a chance to generate one’s own action movie tagline with a movie trailer voice, including such hits as “Destroy Action-Packed Pigeons!” at the following link: http://taglines.theshowdowneffect.com/13000b0b

In addition to the website, Paradox has also released a new video for The Showdown Effect, highlighting the title’s in-game animation and art. Viewers interested in how the game renders a man being blasted through a fourth-story window by a rocket explosion may view the informative piece here:

The Showdown Effect will be starting Closed Beta testing soon, and players can still sign up. Failure to do so could prove fatal (but probably won’t). Sign up for the beta atbeta.theshowdowneffect.com.

To learn more about The Showdown Effect visit the new website at www.theshowdowneffect.com.

On Thursday, January 17 at 7 p.m. GMT (11 a.m. PST) we will host a streaming event that showcases The Showdown Effect in all its cliched glory. To view the explosive broadcast, head over to the official Paradox Interactive TwitchTV channel at twitchtv.com/paradoxinteractive

Positech Games Announces Democracy 3

Positech Games is today announcing that their next game will be a sequel to their popular and unique political strategy game Democracy 2.  In a sudden flash of revolutionary inspiration, the new game will be called…
Democracy 3.

A lot has changed in the world of politics since Positech first suffered the mental anguish of programming Democracy 2. We have had a global credit crunch and financial crisis, the occupy movement, the Arab spring, and mobile phones have got slightly smaller, then larger again.
Democracy 3 will be a massively improved and updated version of the game that will reflect changes in both gaming tastes and the world of politics. Despite sharing the basic GUI design of earlier games in the series, Democracy 3 is being built on a complete ground-up re-engineering of the custom-built neural network engine used to power the complex simulation beneath the hood of the game. Improvements will be equal parts graphical and simulation based, with greater freedom to use both private/free market solutions to problems as well as more accurate simulation of financial markets, voter cynicism and much more.
The ship date for the game is currently set as ‘2013’. (We would make a more precise prediction but it would be about as reliable as a government budget forecast).
You will be pleased to know that developer cliff harris finally decided not to change his name to ‘fiscal cliff’ as a PR stunt.
More details to come over the next few months and also at www.cliffski.com. In the meantime, political animals can feast upon the political goodness of Democracy 2 at www.positech.co.uk/democracy2 or grab the existing game from steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/218040/